Sign



March 12, 1940. N, CARVER 2,193,057

Filed Sept. 15, 1957 win ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 12, 1940- p v 2,193,057 p SIGN Horace N. Carver, Wichita, Kans. f Application September 15, 1937, Serial No. 163,981 ,5 Claims. (01. -135),

This invention relates to signs and more particularly to a sign having reflecting characteristics which especially adapts it for use as a thoroughfare direction or warning signal;

The principal object of the present'invention is to provide a sign adapted to efliciently reflect and/or refract light therefrom for attracting the attention of motorists and conveying suitable information to such motorists.

Other important objects of the present inven-.

tion are to providea sign of durable character and arresting appearance; to provide anim-v visible from a great distance.

. In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying wherein:

drawing Fig. l is a perspective view of a sign embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section through the.

sign on the line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-section through the sign on the line'3--3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the sign .illustrated in Fig. 1 showing the parts thereof in disassembled spaced relation.

pebbled outer surface thereof and a inner surface for the panel.

prismatic Referring more in detail to the drawing:

1, Fig. 1, generally designates a sign embodying the features of the present inventionwhich preferably consists of a post 2 or the like adapted to be suitably mounted inthe ground at a stratcgic position in a road system, and 3 designates a support in the nature of a backboard which is fixed to the post 2 as by fastening devices 4. The support 3 may be of any suitable design and, in. the present instance, it is shown as'of octagonal shape having a suitable border portion 5, which may be of a color different from that of the support forenhancing the appearance of the sign and for providing a stop. at the inner edges 6 thereof for centering a stencilled member 1 to beymounted on-the support.

. in the Word STOP.

The stencilled member I is: preferably of rectangular shape and provided with tapered side and end walls 8 engageable with the support in such a manner as to space the outer face 9 of the stencilled member outwardly relative to the outer face Ill of the support 3, the stencilled member being suitably secured to the support as by fastening devices .I I. Cutout portions or perforations 12 are provided in the stencilled memberin such a manner as to effect a. legend for the sign which, in the present instance, comprises the' word Stop, such cutout portions l2 preferably being provided with outstruck peripheral flanges l3 forming a protective element for the sign and enhancing its appearance. Ribs it! are'mounted in the cutout portions of the stencilled member and connected to the body portion thereof for connecting intermediate portions of the indicia formed by the 1 perforations of the stencil: and supporting parts of the indicia in operative'position relative to the cutout portions; for example, the .centerpl5- of they letter O is The ribs Hi mayjbe provided with a lustrous finish as by forming the same of polished aluminum for the purpose of reflecting light rays impinging against the sign thereof.

Mounted in the space between the face ID of the support 3 and the inner face I! of the stencilled memberv is a panel 18, which is preferably formed of a transparent or translucent material, such as glass or a suitable synthetic resin having a high tensile strength. The panel I8 may be in. a single sheet of material, as shown, or, in order to save material, may be composed of a plurality of individual panels mounted in the space between the support'and stencilled member adjacent the respective indicia of. the memher to form backing elements for each of the respective indicia of the sign. Thepanel i8 is preferably provided with a pebbled outer surface l9, as particularly shown. in Fig. 5, which adapts the panel 18. for receiving light rays from practically any angle of incidence 'of such rays, at

a position forwardly of the sign, and disseminatwith a lustrous; finish or coating 2|, which may panel in covering relation to the lustrous coating 25 for protecting and conserving such lustrous finish.

Another embodiment of the panel is disclosed in the panel 23 illustrated in Fig. 6, which is provided with a pebbled outer surface 24 as has been previously described, but which is provided with a prismatic rear face 25 for refracting the light rays entering the pebbled surface 24 of the panel and additionally disseminating such rays reflecting and refracting light rays. A protective coating 25" may also be provided for the lustrous coating.

In order to further protect the panel or panel parts of the sign, I preferably provide the stencil perforations [2 with a suitable screen 26 as of wire mesh which, in .the present instance, is shown as composing individual parts engaged within the stencil openings. The screen may be provided with a lustrous finish as by polishing the wire from which it is made for enhancing reflection of light from the sign.

The assembly and operation of the sign disclosed in Figs, 1 to 6, inclusive, is as follows:

The support 3 is mounted on the post 2. The

screen 26 is suitably applied to the stencilled member and the panel 58, which may be of either of the forms disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6, is mounted in the stencilled member within the embossed portion 21 thereof. The fastening devices H may then be applied to suitable openings 28 and 29 in the stencilled member and support, respectively, for securing the panel and stencilledmember to the support.

As light rays impinge against the sign, for example, those light rays issuing. from the headlights of a motor vehicle at night, or light rays from the sun, for example, during the day, such rays strike the pebbled surface!!! or 24 of the panel It or 23, respectively, and due to; the myriad convexities formed by such pebbled surface, a part of the surface of each individual pebble is adapted to catch and pass light rays into the interior or body portion of the panel,the light rays being disseminated throughout the panel to illuminate the same due to its transparent or predetermined cutout portions or perforations forming the indicia, letters or words to provide a legend for the sign, the attention of the motorist is first attracted by the brilliance or luminosity of the sign and such motorist is subsequently informed of the legend of the sign to the end that the instructions on the sign may be followed and the purpose of the sign therefore accomplished.

The principal advantages in a sign embodying the featuresof the present invention are that light rays are received from practically any angle of incidence by the pebbled, and certain convex, outer surfaces of the panels, which serve to not only catch the light rays, but disseminate them by breaking up the rays and effecting a luminous appearance of the sign and panel thereof. The light rays, after entering the panel, are either reflected directly or refracted in further intensified or broken up condition by the prismatic contour of certain of the rear faces of the panels and emitted from the sign in magnified form in :a multitude of directions in such a manner that the. sign is visible to and attracts attention of persons within a wide range. The panels and indicia thereof, being formed of glass or synthetic resins, are strong and durable and re 'sistant to the effects of the elements and the sign therefore maintains an attractive appearance and effective utility over a long period of time.

Where parts of the sign have been damaged in certain or the forms of the invention, the indicia may be easily and quickly removed for tecting the panel.

I '2.-'A sign of the character described including a support, a panel adapted to have light passed therethrough a rigid member covering the panel and connected with the support for mounting the panel on the support, said member having cutout portions for exposing portions of the panel to provide a legend for the sign, and a separate wire mesh screen formed of relatively flexible fine wire mounted in said cutout portions for protecting the 1 panel, said screen having a lustrous finish.

' 3. A sign of the character described including a support, a panel adapted to have light passed therethrough, a stencilled member covering the panel and connected with the support for mounting the panel on the support, said member having cutout portions for exposing portions of the panel to provide a legend for the sign, a screen mounted in said member about said cutout portions for protecting the panel, and ribs mounted in the member at the cutout portions thereof for protecting the panel.

4. A sign of the character described including a support, a panel adapted to have light passed therethrough, a'stencilled member covering the panel and connected with the support for mounting the panel on the support, said member having cutout portions for exposing portions of the panel to provide a legend for the sign, a screen mounted in said member about said cutout portions for protecting the panel, and ribs mounted in the member at the cutout portions thereof for protecting the panel, said screen and ribs having a lustrous finish.

5. A sign of the character described including a support, a panel adapted to have light passed therethrough, a member covering the panel and connected with the support for mounting the panel on the support, said member having cutout portions for exposing portions of the panel to provide a legend for the sign, ribs mounted in the cutout portions of said member for protecting the panel, and outwardly extending peripheral flanges on said member about said cutout portions for protecting the ribs.

HORACE N. CARVER. 

